Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

in Houston, placed a distant second, while Seattle winner and factory Suzuki rider Phil Lawrence finished a respectable third after falling on the second lap and working his way through the pack. Pichon, who plans to contest the World Championship 125cc MX Series, was competing under a one-day AMA license, and received no points for his win, though a $2000 share of the $10,000 purse made it ~orth his while. Lawrence maintains a slim lead in the standings over Gaddis, 89-87, and Tommy Clowers, who rides for Escondido, California's North County Yamaha and finished fourth, remains in third with 61 point~. Next week, the Western Regional riders will get a break as the series returns to the Eastern Region for round six in Tampa, Florida. As is typically the case for San Diego, riders were in large part pleased with the James Kitchens-built track, which, with the exception of minor alterations to one or two jumps, was identical to last year's. The first three straights after turn one ran along the perimiter of the field and consisted of, respectively, a small jump up to a tabletop, a large triple, and a smaller triple. The course then turned to the interior of the field, where it twisted around within itself before rejoining the flat starting straight. Among the infield obstacles were a strange whoop-filled incline, a long section of whoops and, one turn before the typical finish-line mountain, a steepfaced pair of jumps that the faster riders were able to double. Thrown in throughout the track were short whoop sections and small doubles. 250cc Heats As usual, two eight-lap heats transferred four riders each to the ma;n event, with the remaining racers moving on to the semis. With the money from the Coors Light Silver Bullet bonus totalling $5000, fast heat times became all-important, and Team Suzuki's twotime Eastern Regional 12Sec Supercross Champion Brian Swink looked eager to claim the prize as he pulled the holeshot in heat number one and immediately set a blistering pace. Hard on Swink's heels were Suzuki support rider Larry Ward and factory Suzuki rider Jimmy Button, who was taking advantage of the break in the Eastern Regional 12Sec Series to get in some practice on a big bike. After suffering a poor gate Bradshaw was dead last and circulated the track slowly, apparently resigned to riding a semi. "1 had a little bit of trouble when a couple guys crashed and 1 ran into them," said Bradshaw. "1 knew 1 couldn't catch them (the leaders) so 1 just decided to cruise." Throughout the evening, most riders attacked the tabletop after turn one by launching off the jump before it and landing on top of the plateau, but Swink was able to elevate high enough off the first jump to clear it and land on the downside. Swink appeared to be riding confidently and smoothly, and he and Ward quickly pulled away from the pack. Button fell early on and remounted further back, allOWing Honda of Troy rider Erik Kehoe into the third spot. Kehoe appeared to have third place sewn up, but he crashed on the next-tolast lap. Suzuki rider Chris Young took up the position, only to lose it to a hardcharging Button three turns before the finish when the two made contact and Young went down. Suzuki riders grabbed all four qualifying positions, as Swink posted the win. Next were Ward and Button, with Young, whose wife had had a baby one week earlier, remounting in time for fourth. Mike Kiedrowski (3) passed Michael Craig (24) while on his way to second place. Craig rode well to finish fourth overall. "It was boring, but that's the way we like them," said Swink. "1 tried to put on a show on the last lap. 1 was trying to learn some lines so 1 could win the main. In my opinion, } think I'll win here." Kawasaki semi-factory rider Michael Ray Craig led McGrath, Kiedrowski and Stanton around the first turn in the talent-laden second heat. Kiedrowski sailed past McGrath over the triples, but he fell on a jump just before the finish, taking McGrath with him. "} slowed down behind Craig, and McGrath hit me from behind," said Kiedrowski. "Kiedrowski brake-checked me a little bit, and 1 hit him and went down," said McGrath, whose concentration before the heat had been affected when his bike's radiator hose popped off during the final practice. Stanton managed to stay upright but lost several positions, while Yamahamounted Team Noleen rider Larry Brooks and Suzuki's Jeff Matiasevich avoided the mayhem altogether and took over second and third, respectively. Stanton worked his way into second by the fourth circuit, but Craig, from nearby El Cajon, had a seven-second lead and appeared to have the -win in the bag. However, with two laps still to go, the complexion of the race changed dramatically when the flag man mistakenly gave Craig the white flag, signalling the final lap. The next time across the finish line, Craig pulled what was probably the most spectacular clicker of the night and coasted towards the edge of the track with his fist in the air, not seeing the second white flag. Craig nailed the throttle when he finally noticed the frantic gestures of mechanic Bryan Emig, but Stanton had closed to his rear fender. Craig had his hometown crowd on its feet and screaming as he repelled Stanton's attempts throughout the final lap to notch the win. Matiasevich was third For the third-straisht week, rookie sensation Jeremy McGrath scored the overall win•. 7

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